Terrorist threat closes Fla. highway - ME men detained said "Americans would cry on 9/13"

Associated Press ^ | September 13, 2002 | Associated Press Staff

[MeekOneGOP]

Terrorist threat closes Fla. highway

09/13/2002

Associated Press

NAPLES, Fla. - Officials shut down Alligator Alley, the main East-West highway crossing the Everglades, and people in two vehicles were detained after a possible terrorist threat, police said.

Bomb-sniffing dogs alerted authorities to material in both vehicles, said E.J. Picolo of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Explosive charges were being used to blast open what appeared to be a backpack taken from one of the vehicles. A suitcase was also set out beside the car.

"The information we have is very specific," Picolo said.

AP

He said the three people had not been arrested, but were being detained.

The Florida Highway Patrol shut down a 20-mile stretch of Interstate 75 shortly after 1 a.m., when the vehicles were stopped. It was still closed more than six hours later.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation had issued an advisory Thursday after a waitress in Calhoun, Ga., in the northwestern part of that state, told police she overheard three men of Middle Eastern descent discussing terrorist plans Wednesday night.

The Georgia woman said the men were talking about amounts of explosives and warned that Americans would "cry on 9/13," said Miami Police Lt. Bill Schwartz, quoting from the Georgia advisory.

Alligator Alley is the main road from Naples to Fort Lauderdale across the Everglades in South Florida.

The highway patrol said the road was blocked off from a toll booth east of Naples to State Road 29.

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Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/latestnews/stories/091302dnnatflaterror.19f1bb46.html

[TigersEye]

Anthrax was domestic terrorism.

This appears to be a statement of fact. To rational minds. It isn't a fact. To rational minds.

[Poohbah]

Who said that the anthrax letter person(s) are in the smart group?

[Poohbah]

Anthrax was domestic terrorism.

Only if you accept the "right-wing fanatic with access to Fort Detrick" theory, first propounded by a extremist left-wing harridan.

The strain of anthrax used (Ames) is a common one, mostly because Fort Detrick has mailed it all around the world just for the asking.

[RobRoy]

>>Why were they specualting abut having "enough to bring it down" whatever "it" is in English?<<

C'mon you guys, put the pieces together. They're in Florida, home of cape canaveral - and they're gonna bring "it" down.

They're talking about the MOON!

We're all gonna die FOR SURE this time!

Seriously, I'm quite sure the government has PAID PROFESSIONALS who are coming up with the same questions and possibilities that are being raised on this thread.

And probably a lot more...

[RobRoy]

>>The strain of anthrax used (Ames) is a common one, mostly because Fort Detrick has mailed it all around the world just for the asking.<<

Yeah, I still got some in the fridge. I got it free for opening a checking account...

[Poohbah]

Yeah, I still got some in the fridge. I got it free for opening a checking account...

No, you didn't. You just never cleaned the fridge.

[RobRoy]

No, your thinking of the penicillin.

Nice one, though.

On a related note, does anybody know how to get coffee out of those little cracks between the keys... and my nose stings now.

[jiggyboy]

it is certainly possible that terrorists could plant harmful items on them or in their bags and possessions after they get through security, for later retrieval.

Possibly, but until they stop talking about their plans in public diners, let's assume they aren't at that level of sophistication yet. :-)

[Illbay]

Give me YOUR facts, then.

[Illbay]

Right-wing, Left-wing, "moderate," who knows? But it was some guy who has problems working well with others, whose only claim to slyness was that he piggy-backed it on the 9/11 attacks.

If this had been a real act of terrorism by REAL terrorists, you'd have been instructed to tune to your local station, which would have told you that about 100,000 people were very, very ill.

Stupid Anthrax deal was just numb-nuts, that's all there is to it.

Like I said: Ted Kasczinsky made a bigger splash.

[Poohbah]

If this had been a real act of terrorism by REAL terrorists, you'd have been instructed to tune to your local station, which would have told you that about 100,000 people were very, very ill.

That requires some comeptent execution and some sophisticated manufacturing (the usual tool in biowar scenarios is a bug-spray fogger in an air conditioning intake--and that means someone has to fill the sprayer).

Stupid Anthrax deal was just numb-nuts, that's all there is to it.

Terrorists are not always competent. Witness the number of "own goals" by bombers.

[MeekOneGOP]

Per FOX News Channel, it seems that the three detainees are from three different ME countries - Pakistan, Iran & Jordan. Possibly they didn't speak a common language except for English I suppose. Also, their story is they were heading to a hospital for some medical seminar and their alibi (reservations) is confirmed by the hospital where the seminar is to be held. That still doesn't explain their conversation and behavior, etc.

I-75 is still closed on that 20 mile stretch.....

[MeekOneGOP]

PS: The speculation is that they were playing a "joke" on the lady in the booth next to them. Looks like the joke is on them, imho..........

They are still being retained for further questioning, etc.

[genefromjersey]

If this was a "little student prank ", it was STILL terrorism: an action, or series of actions INTENDED to cause great public alarm.

I'm sure, when they get to meet their new cellmates at whatever prison they wind up in , they will learn the TRUE meaning of terror-and despair !

[MeekOneGOP]

This brings to mind an old song containing the plaintive question "Who's crying now?"

Somehow I think the pranksters are - see #53-54......

[TigersEye]

Give me YOUR facts, then.

The only facts I have are what has been released to the public. And that is that the identity of the anthrax mailer and the source of his anthrax is still unknown. Perhaps you are privy to knowledge outside the public domain. If not then you are just guessing and trying to pass off your guesses as facts. Which points to another fact...nothing new here.

[Rebelbase]

Al Qaeda will exist and continue to be a threat until we eliminate their supporters in Iraq, Saudi, Yemen, Lybia, Sudan, Egypt, Somolia, Iran, Chechnea(sp?), Khazakstan, Uzbekistan, and Indonesia, IMHO.

[Rebelbase]

Hate to say it, but there is always the possibility that they stiffed the waitress on the tip so she decided to provide a "tip".

[TigersEye]

ala 1-800-GET-EVEN? ; )